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 Why do arteries have thick walls and veins have thin walls?

Blood is pumped into the arteries with a lot of pressure and the thickness helps the arteries to sustain such pressure. Veins are thin walled as they carry deoxygenated blood towards the heart and experience less pressure comparable to that of arteries.  

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Arteries have thick walls

  Arteries and arterioles have thicker walls than veins and venules, respectively.  The increased amount of smooth muscle that is found in arteries gives them extra strength and elasticity to deal with the surges of blood from the heart.

 

Arteries

bulletmust be able to endure high pressure of blood
bullet

Veins

bulletmust be able to prevent blood from backing up
bulletmust be able to allow some blood to collect without bursting

These are the very conditions that the different structures of arteries and veins reflect.

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Arteries

 
bulletmust be able to endure high pressure of blood
bullet

Veins

 
bulletmust be able to prevent blood from backing up
bullet 

must be able to allow some blood to collect without bursting
Arteries and arterioles have thicker walls than veins and venules, respectively.  The increased amount of smooth muscle that is found in arteries gives them extra strength and elasticity to deal with the surges of blood from the heart.


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